Footwear



Oct. 27, 1964 N. STEINBOCK FOOTWEAR Filed Feb. 11, 1963 Na ha n Sfein back INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,153,865 FGOTWEAR Nathan Steinbock, 1625 Summer St. SW Salem, Greg. Filed Feb. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 257,442 Claims. (Cl. 3624.5)

This invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to a construction for a shoe that features a heel and shank device, an upper, and a sole secured together in a novel manner.

Among the general objects of the invention are to provide a new and improved shoe that is comfortable, good looking, practical, and long-wearing.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide a novel shoe, that includes as part of the shoe a heel and shank device, with such shaped along the top thereof so as to cup the base of the heel and arch while supporting the same, and that further includes an upper secured to the heel and shank device in such a manner that the device functions to maintain the shape of the upper.

Yet another object is to provide a shoe, having a heel and shank device therein, that features a novel construction for strengthening the entire shoe, such construction including an outer sole for the shoe that extends at the front of the shoe along the base of the shoe, and then passes through an opening in the shank portion of the heel and shank device, so that the sole at the back of the shoe resides within the shoe.

The shoe of the invention is relatively easily manufactured, and the construction selected for securing the sole in place imparts a degree of unity to the shoe as a whole that is absent in prior known constructions.

The general objects indicated above, as well as other objects and advantages, will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a womans shoe embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the shoe in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken generally along the line 33 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a heel and shank device that is part of the shoe.

Referring now to the drawings, the shoe illustrated is the right one of a womans pair of shoes, and is indicated generally at 10. As in conventional shoes, the shoe comprises an upper 12 and an outer sole 14. Also part of the shoe is a heel and shank device or unit, indicated generally at 16.

Preferably heel and shank device 16 is a one-piece unit. The device includes a heel portion 18, and a shank portion 20. The shank portion functions to stiffen the shoe between the heel and forward or toe end, while the heel portion functions to elevate the heel.

Various materials may be used in the construction of the device 16. Typically it may be molded from a suitable plastic or synthetic material. Alternatively, the device may be fashioned from wood, metal or like material, of suitable stiffness and strength. A molded unit has the advantage of being relatively simply manufactured. It is not intended by this discussion to be limited to the use of any particular material for device or unit 15.

Heel and shank device 16 at the top thereof is provided with a concave recess that extends along the length of the device, and such recess is indicated at 24. Bounding the sides of the recess and extending along the sides and across the back of heel portion 18 is a shoulder 26. Recess 24 has a shape approximately corresponding to the contour of the bottom of a heel and adjacent parts of the foot. Thus, the recess is efiective to cup the heel and under portions of the arch when the shoe is worn. The recess 3,153,865 Patented Oct. 27, 1964 contributes to foot comfort, and also is an important factor in the shoe keeping its shape and wearing Well.

The forward part of shank portion 2% terminates in an edge 30. With the shoe on the floor, edge 30 approximately parallels the floor. When the shoe is worn, the shoe flexes somewhat in front of edge 30.

Completing the description of heel and shank device 16, at 36 there is indicated an opening or slot in shank portion 29 that extends transversely of the shank portion intermediate edge 39 and heel portion 18. The slot is used in mounting sole 14 of the shoe, as will hereinafter be described.

Upper 12 includes a front or toe-covering portion 40, and a back portion 42 that extends around the sides and back of a wearers heel when the shoe is worn. The bottom margin 12a of upper 12 is turned in, and over that portion of the shoe that is supported by heel and shank device 16, margin 12a is within recess 24, and lies on top of and is secured in a suitable manner to the top of the heel and shank device. In the toe portion of the shoe, i.e., that part of the shoe in front of heel and shank device 16, the inturned bottom margin of the upper lies over the top of sole 14, and is secured in place in a conventional manner with the sole 14 extending thereunder.

Sole 14, progressing from the front or toe portion of the shoe, extends over edge 30 of the heel and shank device, and in covering relation over the underside of that part of shank portion 2t between edge 30 and slot 36. At slot 36, the sole extends through the slot, and thence toward the back of the shoe while on the inside of the shoe and on top of the heel and shank device, in recess 24. As shown in the embodiment illustrated, the base of recess 24 may be provided with a shallow channel 44 r ceiving sole 14, whereby the top of the sole along its margin is substantially flush with adjoining top surface portions of the heel and shank device. Also as indicated by the embodiment of the invention shown, bottom margin 12a of the upper may extend inwardly and overlap the edge of sole 14, over that part of the sole that lies within the shoe. The sole is secured in a suitable manner to heel and shank device 16.

In a completed shoe, a cushioning layer, such as that indicated at 46, and a sock lining 48, may also be included. These extend along the inside of the shoe, usually continuously from the toe to the back or heel of the shoe. Layer 46 and lining 48 provide cushioning, and finish off the interior of the shoe.

The shoe described has a number of advantages. As already indicated, because of the recess provided along the top of the heel and shank device, the foot along the heel and arch portions is cradled in the shoe, contributing to comfort. Shoulder 26 bounding the sides of recess 24 functions to hold a wearers foot properly in place and thus inhibits stretching and deforming of the shoe upper, such as might be caused by continual shifting of the foot within the shoe. The shoulder thus performs somewhat as does the counter of the conventional shoe, although it will be noted that the shoulder extends about the outside of the base of upper 12. Sole 14, by extending into the shoe at the back of the shoe, is fully integrated into the shoe. The result is more strength and better wearing qualities than is possible using similar materials and the usual prior known types of shoe constructions.

A particular type of womans shoe has been illustrated, however, it should be obvious that the construction and concepts embodied therein could be incorporated into other types of womens shoes, or in shoes for other than women, such as childrens shoes, etc.

I claim:

1. In a shoe, a combined heel and shank device including a heel portion and joined thereto and extending forwardly therefrom a shank portion, an upper secured to said heel and shank device including a back portion adapted to cover the sides and back of a wearers heel, saidback portion of said upper having a bottom margin that is turned in and disposed over the top of said heel and shank device, an opening in said shank'portion spaced rearwardly of the forward end thereof, and an outer sole for the shoe that extends from the front of the shoe rearwardly and over the underside 'of said shank portion, through said opening, and thence toward the back of the shoe on the inside of the shoe. 7

.2. A shoe having a combined heel and shank devicev including a heel portion and joined thereto and extending forwardly therefrom a shank portion, a transversely extending terminal edge for said shank portion at the forward end thereof, a transversely extending elongated slot in said shank portion disposed intermediate said terminal edge and said heel portion, and a sole for the shoe that at the front of the shoe isalong the bottom and outside of the shoe and that extends over the underside of the lower part of said shank portion, through said slot, and thence toward the back of the shoe on the inside of the shoe.

3. In a shoe, a combined heel and shank device including a heel portion and joined thereto and extending forwardly therefrom a shank portion, a transversely extending slot in said shank portion disposed between the forward end thereof and said heel portion, an outer sole for the shoe extending from the toe and on the outside of the shoe over the underside of the forward partof said shank portion, through said opening, and thence to the back of the shoe while disposed in superimposed relation over the top of said heel and shank device, and an upper for the shoe including a heel-covering back portion with the bottom margin thereof turned in and disposed in superimposed relation over the top of said heel and shank device together with said sole.

4. In a shoe, a combined heel and shank device including a heel portion and joined thereto and extending forwardly therefrom a shank portion, a concave recess extending along the top of said heel and shank device having a contour approximating the contour of the base. of

the heel and adjacent parts of the foot, an elongated opening in said shank portion between the ends thereof and extending transversely of the shank portion, an outer sole for the shoe that extends from the toe and on the outside of the shoe rearwardly along the underside of said shank portion, through said opening, and thence to the back of the shoe inside of the shoe while disposed in superimposed relation over the top of said heel and shank device, and an upper secured to the heel and shank device including a heel-covering back portion having a lower margin turned in and superimposed over the top of said heel and shank device with that part of the sole inside the shoe beneath said margin.

5, In a shoe, a combined heel and shank device including a heel portion and joined thereto and extending forwardly therefrom a shank portion, a concave recess extending along the top of said heel and shank device having a contour approximating the contour of the base of the heel and. adjacent parts of the foot, an elongated opening in said shank portion between the ends thereof and extending transversely of the shank portion, an outer sole for the shoe that extends from the toe and on the outside of the shoe rearwardly along the underside of said shank portion, through said opening, and thence to the back of the shoe inside the shoe while disposed in superimposed relation over the top of said heel and shank device, an upper secured to the heel and shank device including a heel-covering back portion having a lower margin turned in and superimposed over the top of said heel and shank device with that part of the sole inside the shoe beneath said margin, and cushioning means on the inside of the shoe extending from the toe to the back of the shoe and lying over said sole and said margin of said upper.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Harrison Nov. 17, 1959 

1. IN A SHOE, A COMBINED HEEL AND SHANK DEVICE INCLUDING A HEEL PORTION AND JOINED THERETO AND EXTENDING FORWARDLY THEREFROM A SHANK PORTION, AN UPPER SECURED TO SAID HEEL AND SHANK DEVICE INCLUDING A BACK PORTION ADAPTED TO COVER THE SIDES AND BACK OF A WEARER''S HEEL, SAID BACK PORTION OF SAID UPPER HAVING A BOTTOM MARGIN THAT IS TURNED IN AND DISPOSED OVER THE TOP OF SAID HEEL AND SHANK DEVICE, AN OPENING IN SAID SHANK PORTION SPACED REARWARDLY OF THE FORWARD END THEREOF, AND AN OUTER SOLE FOR THE SHOE THAT EXTENDS FROM THE FRONT OF THE SHOE REARWARDLY AND OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID SHANK PORTION, THROUGH SAID OPENING, AND THENCE TOWARD THE BACK OF THE SHOE ON THE INSIDE OF THE SHOE. 